Original subtitles

You said we were starting morning training today, so I show up, and what do I find?

We're seaweed harvesting?!

Yuma, no slacking off!

I-I can't take it!

Mitsuhashi, get a hold of—

Hey, man, keep our oceans clean.

Come on, guys. Hiring this boat cost money, remember.

Slave driver.

Bout 4 "Dachi High's Fifth Member"

Okay, then. Let's get started.

Ow... This is hard.

There was a French artist...

...by the name of Jean Cocteau who called sumo "the art of balance."

The basic idea of sumo is to knock your opponent off balance.

I get it now.

This is going to strengthen the muscles we use for balance.

Correct.

I knew that was your reason for this boat trip all along!

And the seaweed has something to do with it too, doesn't it?

You can grab the seaweed like this, is that it?

Like grabbing a mawashi belt?

The seaweed is not part of the training.

Huh? Oh...

It's still morning, but I'm already beat.

I'll just take a nice long nap during class.

You still remember that day, don't you?

Oh, you were in the arena today, Kirihito?

I didn't see you compete, though.

You drop out way too quickly.

Sorry about that.

Something wrong, Kirihito?

Hey...

Do you like sumo?

Of course I do!

I like it because I can use my yokozuna-style sumo to win! That's what makes it fun!

You haven't won at all since you started middle school.

Are you sure it's still fun?

Yokozuna-style sumo is all well and good,

but isn't there a more practical way?

Just because you work hard, it doesn't mean you'll be successful, Hinomaru.

Master Yamatokuni told me basically the same thing.

Master Yamatokuni? In your first year at middle school, you mean?

Yeah.

I got a direct lesson from that master yokozuna.

Okay. Now, show me some of your moves.

Yes, sir!

Isn't he last year's "young boy yokozuna"?

He's pretty small. Maybe he hasn't grown since last year.

He hasn't been performing this year, probably due to his size.

You three...

Choose your words better.

I don't mind.

Even so...

Isn't it foolhardy to attack head-on with your diminutive stature?

Master Yamatokuni, you yourself met opponents head-on during your career.

That is how I live.

Well, that goes for me, too.

I will wear another yokozuna belt.

If you want to laugh at me, go ahead!

Practice for three years from now.

Three years from now?

Then, you can show me

how you have chosen to live.

I haven't changed my mind one bit.

'Cause I'm pigheaded.

You sure are, but it works for you.

I prepared for this eventuality.

Oh, yeah. I was curious, so I did some research

on how to get into professional sumo.

Are you setting your sights on becoming a sekitori?

My goal is to be a mixed martial artist.

Listen to this: "To become a pro, sumo wrestlers must pass a physical entrance exam.

The minimum height requirement is 167 cm."

But that means...

Yeah. No matter how hard he trains, he can't make it into the pro league.

Is he pushing himself this hard just because he likes sumo?

Where on earth does he get his motivation?

I've laid out individual training regimes for you all.

I'd like you all to follow them to the letter.

Individual training regimes?

Um...

You're taking part in the tournaments too, aren't you, Tsuji-san?

Shouldn't you be focusing on your own training?

I won't be competing in any bouts.

Are you sure you want a beginner like me on the team?

I'm more than happy to do it, but...

You've done sumo before, haven't you?

If we want to maximize our chances of winning, shouldn't you be competing, too?

Also, I don't like being ordered around by someone who might not even be any good.

What a pain.

What?!

I'll show you by getting our rookie, Mitsuhashi, to beat the lot of you.

Wh-Wh-What are you saying?!

That's not what I meant at all!

Don't worry. Just do what I tell you.

This guy's kinda arrogant, isn't he?

He's making fun of us.

I'm going to enjoy this.

Not happening! I can't do this!

Spirit!

Take this! And this! And that!

His hands. Watch his hands!

There!

No way...

Nice work, Kei.

He was waiting until Yuma-san's feet were square on.

Dammit! What happened?!

Shall I explain?

Your weakness is your hand slaps.

You put all of your strength into your upper body, and your legs don't keep up.

So simply moving out of the way puts you off balance.

What?!

Your normal sparring partner is partly to blame.

That idiot doesn't know how to pull away.

He can't object when he's on the ground.

Now, what lesson do you have for me, professor?

"Professor"?

Mitsuhashi.

He beat Yuma-san, but Kunisaki's a national wrestling champion.

What could his weakness be?

Spirit!

A-An inside ankle sweep?

Shall I explain?

Yeah. If you would.

Your footwork isn't where it needs to be.

When you take a step, your foot isn't flat.

Work on pointing your toes outward and shuffling your whole sole when you move.

Yes, prof.

Hey, Ozeki.

You'd better not lose.

O-Okay.

Spirit!

A leg grab?

But I can push back.

No, not like that. Closer to the ankle.

Okay!

Wow.

I did it!

But... how?

President, your legs and loins are strong,

but your upper body is weak, correct?

You didn't push him hard enough, so you let him get in close.

This jerk knows everything about us...

I get it. I see what you're saying.

So basically,

one needs to research their opponents and take advantage of their weaknesses to win.

But we're lacking in that department...

The brains!

Say something!

No one who competes at national level has weaknesses as obvious as yours.

And why would they?

They're experienced, well-rounded sumo wrestlers.

A team of beginners with only a few months of slapdash training

would struggle to pass the Prefectural prelims.

And that's why you have me.

What I just showed you with the help of Mitsuhashi aren't weaknesses.

They are areas to improve.

With the time we have left,

we'll hone the weapons each of you possess to a keen edge.

Even if you aren't well-rounded, you only need one killer move.

Become specalist sumo wrestlers with one move that can cut it in the national level.

Specialist sumo wrestlers...

Now, Hinomaru...

I need to show you what you can improve.

Come with me.

Let's begin our bout.

He's slim, but he definitely works out.

So he is competing?

I think they were in the same elementary school sumo club.

Hey, Hinomaru. Is Tsuji good?

I thought they were friends.

Are you sure, Kirihito?

I won't hold back in the ring.

Maybe I don't make myself clear at times, but you, on the other hand, talk too much.

Who do you think you are? You need to leave that attitude outside of the ring.

Just so you know, I'm using a leaf out of your book.

I'll attack you head-on.

Otherwise, you won't get the point I'm trying to make.

Th-That's...

...a spider stance!

Can he even get up from a stance that low?

Fine by me.

He's fast!

He forced Hinomaru to make low contact

and sealed off his charge!

No way... How's he doing so well against Hinomaru-san?

He got him by the throat to force him off!

Those are some heavy blows.

Is this the yokozuna-style sumo you've been striving for?

But don't forget, Hinomaru:

You can't call it yokozuna-style sumo unless you win!

He grabbed his arm to switch places!

This guy's got some crazy technique!

That's the right-handed belt grip Ushio uses!

What do you think you're doing?

Are you inviting me to do it?

Have it your way. I'll do it!

Here comes three years' training!

He's going for it.

Ushio's most powerful move!

A technique that combines a throw with a turn!

Hundred demon takedown!

Hundred

Hundred

Demon

Hundred

Demon

Take

Demon

Take

Down

Take

Down

Down

Just because you work hard, it doesn't mean you'll be successful.

I still regret saying it.

What I just said to him...

He works much harder than anyone else,

and that's all I can say to him?!

I won't say it ever again.

I've come up with a way you can be successful.

I won't let your hard work go to waste!

They're both doing the hundred demon takedown!

I'll take your sumo that couldn't defeat Kusanagi

and make it a thing of the past!

He's crazy! Ushio's way too strong!

Take this, Hinomaru!

This is your potential!

A throw, a turn, and a little something extra!

A triple combo technique!

Damn. It's been a while since I was left staring at the ceiling.

I take it... you don't need me... to explain.

It's more than a simple throw... and turn... It's three attacks... in one.

That's... the one opportunity... you've got left.

So you're giving him a decisive new technique?

A triple combo does sound stronger than a double combo.

That move's a real risk, though.

Huh? Why?

Of course it is.

It's difficult enough combining two moves.

But we're talking about three.

And there's no coming back from it.

If it doesn't work, you're out of options.

So his final trump card is a huge gamble?

Are you sure about this, Ushio?

Thanks, Kirihito.

I'll take that gamble.

I once rejected your sumo,

but truth is, I want to see more of it.

I want to see you charge at towering titans and floor them.

That will be your own style of yokozuna sumo: "Hinomaru sumo."

"Hinomaru sumo."

Okay, I'll leave the rest of you to tidy up.

I guess this means you'll be sitting on the bench, Hotaru.

That... That was incredible!

He's a coach, and a really strong sumo wrestler, too!

Dachi High might just become the best sumo school in Japan!

Oh, his glasses.

Tsuji-san!

Me, Hinomaru, and the prof is three guaranteed wins!

That's how we'll breeze through the group competitions!

Hey, what about me?

Sorry to dampen the mood, but listen.

Kirihito can't compete in group competitions.

You've discovered... my secret.

His lungs are weak.

Sumo bouts only last a few seconds, but they're super intense.

He can maybe last twenty seconds.

Kirihito is a sumo wrestler who can only fight for twenty seconds.

N-No...

If I fight longer than twenty seconds...

I drown.

There's no way I could last an entire tournament...

where they... contest several bouts a day.

I've cursed my fate...

and lost the will to continue.

I even went as far as quitting sumo.

But then... I saw something.

An idiot, mocked by fate like I am,

who carried on fighting regardless.

I'm pathetic.

I like sumo, so what else is there to it?

That's why you became a coach?

Yeah.

I want to help him succeed.

Then, it's even more important!

How can someone who's not even standing at the starting line compete?

No. You're a sumo wrestler now.

I know what you've been doing after practice.

I-I'm just not able to do it enough times during practice.

Dachi High's fifth member...

is you, Mitsuhashi.

That's gotta be tough.

Being unable to do sumo because your body's too weak.

Hinomaru's in the same boat.

You can't be a pro at your height, right?

Yuma-san!

If you already know that, why do you train so hard?

I'll tell you why.

He doesn't meet the pro league requirements, but there is a way he can join it.

What?

The inter-high individual champion is named the "high school yokozuna"

and is invited to participate in the All-Japan National Championships.

The All-Japan National Championships?

It's a tourney for amateur sumo wrestlers, including college students and working adults.

If you win it, you receive preference and enter the Makushita division.

Receive preference?

Pro sumo has a preferential system for incoming members.

Makushita and below

Sekitori

Juryo (28 Wrestlers)

Makuuchi (42 Wrestlers)

Sanyaku

Jonokuchi

Jonidan

Sandanme

Yokozuna

Juryo

Maegashira

Komusubi

Sekiwake

Ozeki

Makushita

Normally, you'd start off unranked, but the champion skips several divisions,

and debuts in the Makushita division.

I don't see how that satisfies the height requirement.

Uh, yeah, I was wondering that, too.

Captain, did you read the rule in full?

Amateur sumo wrestlers given preference do not need to pass any physical exams.

I see!

To go down that route, Hinomaru must become the high school yokozuna.

Please, allow me to be your coach.

I wish to help Hinomaru realize his dream!

Yamatokuni Stable

Even though it was only practice, I competed in a bout with someone from another school.

I knew it was contrary to your wishes, Father.

Please forgive me.

How did it feel?

I was reminded of how much I love sumo.

There are other opponents competing in high school sumo that make me feel the same way.

I want to defeat them all, become the top high school sumo wrestler,

and join the professional ranks.

I will wear my status as the son of Yamatokuni like a badge of honor.

That is how I shall live.

This is the first time you've expressed your own desires.

Live as you see fit.

Yes, sir.

By the way, who was it that excited such passion in you?

Ushio Hinomaru-kun.

Hinomaru...

I see... So he's been training hard for the last three years...

You can stop bowing now, Tsuji. I understand how much this means to you.

Kuze isn't the only heavyweight you must defeat.

Across the country, there are others who bear national treasure monikers.

Ishigami High School's technically-gifted Sada Mizuki.

Kanazawa Kita High School's giant, Hikage Tenma.

And...

Tottori Hakuo's Tennoji Shido, the strongest high school yokozuna in history.

There's that many?

This is getting pretty exciting!

Cutting them all down to size and wearing the belt of a yokozuna...

That was my goal.

"Was"?

I have a bigger goal now.

We're going to be the best team in Japan!

Who, us?

Tsuji...

Yes?

I'd like to make a formal request.

Please become the coach of the Dachi High sumo club!

We've been relying on Ushio to handle everything.

But that's not good enough!

Ushio being the best in Japan won't satisfy us.

We're all going to be the best in Japan!

Please help us to achieve that aim!

Captain...

You'd best be prepared for hell starting tomorrow.

B-Bring it on.

I'll do my best!

Then, we'll be harvesting seaweed again.

Just remembering it makes me want to...

Don't hurl in the ring, Hotaru!

This isn't chankonabe stew.

It's just seaweed soup.

Eating as a team makes everything taste great!

Delicious!

I've been wondering... Whose cat is that?

Oh, he's just been hanging around here lately.

His name's Chanko!

You just made that up!

He likes you.

So it seems.

Chanko!

He doesn't like you.

So it seems.

Next Bout “The Refreshing Sumo Wrestler, Sada Mizuki”